http://espn.go.com/college-football...tany-lions-coach-dies-85-2-month-cancer-fight
Perhaps the toughest year of Joe Paterno's life ended this morning, when Paterno passed away from lung cancer. Doctor's were quite optimistic about being able to successfully treat Paterno's cancer, but it progressed fairly rapidly since the New Year. Paterno was pronounced dead at 9:25 am.
My question for all of you is this: How will you remember Joe Paterno? Will you remember him for his legacy at the winningest coach in NCAA history? Or will the scandal that besmirchced his reputation in the minds of some and cost him his job be your lasting memory of him?
As a born and raised Pittsburgh fan, I've always despised Penn State. However, as a human being, I've always respected Joe Paterno. His outstanding graduation rate speaks for itself, as does his mantra of "not just making football players, but making men." This wasn't just a mantra, as he truly invested himself into his players, and they came out better for him. Until Jerry Sandusky, there were no scandals in the PSU football program. You rarely heard stories of former Penn State football players getting in trouble after graduating, whether it be in the NFL or the alternate careers they chose to pursue. I felt Paterno shoduld have retired years ago, but he earned the right to stay on because of his unquestionable legacy. It saddens me that the last year of his life was filled with controversy due to the actions of someone else. For me, this is simply a blip on the radar, as his life of honor farf outweighs the scandal that so unfairly engulfed the last year of his life.
The say that when people lose the most important thing in thier lives, they give up themselves. For Paterno, that was Penn State football. Whose to say that had Paterno not been unfairly villified and fired, that he might still be alive today? There's no way to now, but it makes onr wonder.
How will you remember Joe Paterno? All discussion here.
Perhaps the toughest year of Joe Paterno's life ended this morning, when Paterno passed away from lung cancer. Doctor's were quite optimistic about being able to successfully treat Paterno's cancer, but it progressed fairly rapidly since the New Year. Paterno was pronounced dead at 9:25 am.
My question for all of you is this: How will you remember Joe Paterno? Will you remember him for his legacy at the winningest coach in NCAA history? Or will the scandal that besmirchced his reputation in the minds of some and cost him his job be your lasting memory of him?
As a born and raised Pittsburgh fan, I've always despised Penn State. However, as a human being, I've always respected Joe Paterno. His outstanding graduation rate speaks for itself, as does his mantra of "not just making football players, but making men." This wasn't just a mantra, as he truly invested himself into his players, and they came out better for him. Until Jerry Sandusky, there were no scandals in the PSU football program. You rarely heard stories of former Penn State football players getting in trouble after graduating, whether it be in the NFL or the alternate careers they chose to pursue. I felt Paterno shoduld have retired years ago, but he earned the right to stay on because of his unquestionable legacy. It saddens me that the last year of his life was filled with controversy due to the actions of someone else. For me, this is simply a blip on the radar, as his life of honor farf outweighs the scandal that so unfairly engulfed the last year of his life.
The say that when people lose the most important thing in thier lives, they give up themselves. For Paterno, that was Penn State football. Whose to say that had Paterno not been unfairly villified and fired, that he might still be alive today? There's no way to now, but it makes onr wonder.
How will you remember Joe Paterno? All discussion here.
